Method of and apparatus for treating continuous films



1,615,047 Jan. 18, 1927- J, SHAW ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS 'FOR TREATING CONTINUOUS FILMS Filed July 13. 1922 T. 3 F/7.2. 3 /Z INVENTOR i -is-b- 'ATTORNEY I Patented Jan. 18,1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SHAW, OFv NEW YORK, AND JOHN BERWICK, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW -YORK, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS. TO UNITED COLOR PICTURES, INC.,

OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING CONTINUOUS FILMS.

Application filed July 13,

The present invention relates to the art of treating continuous strips such for example motion picture films, and more particularly to methods of and apparatus for treating one face of such a film while maintaining the other face free from contact with the treating fluid.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved method for treating one face 1 of a film or the like with a liquid or solution while protecting the other face from the effects of the treating solution.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for use in treat- 1 ing films or the like. It is sometimes necessary or desirable to treat one face of a continuous double coated motion picture film or the like with a developing, tinting, dyeing or other solution' without wetting the opposite face with the same solution, as, for example, in the production of films for motion pictures in color of thetype in which one face of the film is treated to bear one color and the op posite face is treated to bear a more orless complementary color. Obviously if when dyeing one face of a film, with, for example, a red dye the opposite face is accidentally flooded with this dye this section of the film is ruined, and furthermore, if the defect is not noticed and the section so flooded is then treated on its second face with a dye of a complementary color, the red dye on the flooded section is further spread and I is mixed more or less with the complementary dye affecting its quality. The effect of s such an accident in first class work will be obvious when it is considered that the section may represent such a period .in the action of a play that it cannofbe eliminated without destroying the value of the whole film. In view of the serious effects of such accidents it is of the utmost importance to provide a method of treatment in which accidents will not occur. It is also desirable to thoroughly agitate the liquid to insure uniformmixing of the heav er elements thereof.

Various methods of treating one side of a strip of film or paper have been proposed, such as spraying, passing the strip over a wetted roller, and floating the strip uponthe 1922. Serial No. 574.839.

solution, but these methods have not given tained against the under surface of the film as the film is fed thereacross, the arrangement being such that the position of the film relative to the body of liquid prevents accidental wetting of the upper surface of the film.

The nature and objects of the invention will be better understood from a description of a particular illustrative embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, somewhat diagrammatic, showing an arrangement of apparatus constructed in accordance wlth the inventlon for treatlng a motion picture film.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

7 gig. 3 is an end view of one of the tanks, an

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tank.

Each of the tanks 2, 3, 4, 5 shown in the drawings for the purpose of illustrating the invention has an open top across which a' continuous film 6 (Fig. 1) may be drawn in use to apply to the under surface of such film the liquid in the tank.

The relative width and arrangement of the tanks is such that the picture area of the film will be thoroughly treated while the possibility of the treating liquid flowing over the edge of the film is avoided. As shown, the film travels along the top edges 9 of the sides of the tank serving as guides by. which it is supported along lines spaced inwardly from the edges of the film "tain the film in suitable relation to the tank.

and by which the marginal edges of the film if desired, these guides may be bent inwardly over the edge of the film as at 11 to hold it down. By psitioning the guides beyond the tanks, as shown, the tendency for the liquid to collect against the guides during the movement of the film and to overflow the edge of the film is avoided. Obviously, when the tanks are positioned as shown one pair of guides between two adja cent tanks is sufficient.

Both ends of the tank preferably are formed to provide spillways 12 on a level slightly below the level of the sup orting guides 9 to permit a constant flow oi liquid through the tank and thereover. This formation of the ends of the tank accomplishes two functions; it permits a circulation of liquid and it prevents scratching of the surface of the film by the end of the tank. In the operation of treating a film the treating liquid flows in substantial volume in thru the inlets 15 or 16 (Fig. 1) and out over the spillways 12 so that the film engages a substantial stream of liquid flowing thereagainst.

The film is likely to bend transversely during treatment, the -wet side becoming conveX. For this reason, we find it desirable to form the spillway 12 on a curve, as indicated in Fig. 3, the curve conforming generally to the curvature of the film and being spaced downwardly from the expected position of the film to insure clearance.

Satisfactory operation has been obtained by making the top of the spillways at the center of the tank about three-sixteenths of an inch-lower than the top of the sides of the tank. When this relation obtains the normal flow of liquid under a head of, for example, one inch in the apparatus illustrated will maintain the liquid in effective contact with the film, eliminating the formation of bubbles as the film .passes along the surface of the tank.

The width of the open top of the tank may be made to suit the particular work in hand; as shown, the width of the opening is sufficiently less than the width of the film, or the like to be treated, to afford a bearing for the film upon the edges of the tank. The body of liquid contacting with the film is thus substantially narrower than the film and is so arranged that it will not flood the top surface thereof.

When aperforated film, as for example the usual motion picture film, is to be treated, it is convenient to form the opening in the tank of a width substantially equal to the width between the perforations of the film; that is to say. substantially equal to the icture area. The effective portion of the lm is thus in free contact with the constantly circulating liquid in the tank. This same condition is not necessary in treating the perforated edge portions of the tive valves.

film. By this arrangement the film forms an unperforated cover for the tank.

The side walls of the tank constitute means for directing the flow of liquid to cause treating of the desired area of the film while preventing flooding of the top surface. In practice the treating solution may run onto the top of the guides but it does not pass thru the perforations or work around the edges of the film to flood the top surface thereof. We prefer to form the guides 9 with an inward slope as shown but this is not essential.

In the arrangement shown a plurality of tanks 2, 3, 4, 5 are arranged in series and a sprocket wheel 13 is provided at one end as conventionally indicating means for drawing the film along the top of the tanks. A dye reservoir 20 and water reservoir 21 are positioned conveniently to supply dye and water to the tanks, and troughs 22, 23 are arranged to receive the overflowing dye and water respectively. A pump 24; returns dye from the trough 22 to the supply tank 20. As shown tank 2 is connected by a pipe 25 controlled by a valve 26 to the water reservoir 21. Tank 3 is connected by a pipe 27 controlled by a valve 28 to the water reservoir and by a pipe 30 with valve 31 to the dye reservoir whereby either water or dye may be supplied to this tank. Similar connections are indicated to connect tank 4 to either dye or water supply and tank 5 to dye supply only. The object of the alternative connection illustrated is to permit adjustment of the extent of time of treatment of a film by varying the number of tanks over which it passes for treatment. A change in the number of troughs containing dye can be made quickly and easily without interrupting the motion of the film by merely opening and closing the respec- Cross troughs 33 each open at one end and closed at the other end are arranged to carry the dye and water from the spillways to the respective troughs. These crosstroughs are each reversible and will be positioned to correspond to the requirements of use as the respective tanks are being used for dye or water or other treating fluids.

The possibilities of use of apparatus of which that described is illustrative will be obvious to those skilled in the art without more detailed explanation.

The above description of the method and apparatus should be considered as illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention as numerous variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A film treating tank, for use in treating a continuous length of film. having an open top of a width less than the width of the film, guides for supporting the film along flow of the liquid to prevent its passin to the top of the tank near the edges of the film, and lateral guides positioned beyond the tank to engage the lateral edges of the 2. A film treating tank, for use in treating a continuous length of film, havingan open top, guides for supporting the film at the level of the top of the tank, and lateral guides positioned beyond the endof the tank to.,.engage the lateral edges of the film.

3. A film treating tank, for use in treating a continuous length of film, having an open top, the sides of the tank beingformed to serve as guides to support the film and the ends being low to permit overflow of the liquid and to be cleared by the film as it film laterally.

6. A film treating tank for use in treating a continuous length of film having an opening at its top of a width substantially equal to the width between the perforations of the film and of a length equal to several times its width, guides arranged to position a moving film over said opening, and one end of said tank havingits top edge slightly below the level of the top of the tank to form a spillway, substantially as described.

7. In apparatus for treating one face of a continuous film, means for feeding the film, means for causing a flow of fluid against one face of the film, and means for guiding the film and means for shielding the marginal edges of the film and controlling the and around the edges or thru the per orations of the film.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a plurality of tanks and means for passing a film thereacross, of means for supplying a treating solution to one of said tanks and means for sup lying either the treating fluid or another flhid alternatively to another of said tanks whereby the film may be subjected to the action 'of said treating fluid for a longer or shorter period as it passes over the tanks.

9. Apparatus for treating one face only of a continuous film, comprising two parallel guides vfor supporting a moving film and shielding the marginal edges thereof and means including a tank for maintaining a body of liquid against the underside of a film supported on the guides, said means being arranged to confine the liquid between the guides to prevent flow of the liquid around the edges of the film.

10. The method of treating one face only of a continuous film or the like which comprises supporting a film and moving it along the parallelside edges of a tank, and maintaining a flow of liquid into said tank and over both ends in contact with the film.

11. The method of treating one face only of a continuous film or the like which comprises drawing the film across the top of a tank filled with a treating fluid while supporting the side edge portions only of the film on the sides of the tank.

12. The method of treating one face only I July, 1922.

\ JOSEPH SHAW.

JOHN W. BERWICK. 

